June 2021

A broken ankle or ankle fracture refers to a break or a hairline crack in any of the bones that make up the ankle. While rarely life-threatening, ankle fractures can be extremely painful. If you have fractured your ankle you may experience pain, swelling, bruising, deformity, numbness or tingling, limited ankle mobility, and an inability to bear weight on the affected ankle. In the case of an open fracture, you may see the broken bone poking through the skin. Ankle fractures require prompt medical attention. They are usually diagnosed through physical examination and imaging studies like X-rays. If you are suffering from the symptoms of a broken ankle, please seek the care of a podiatrist as soon as possible.

Broken ankles need immediate treatment. If you are seeking treatment, contact Dr. Anna Petrov from Family Foot & Ankle Care. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet. 

Broken Ankles
A broken ankle is experienced when a person fractures their tibia or fibula in the lower leg and ankle area. Both of these bones are attached at the bottom of the leg and combine to form what we know to be our ankle.

When a physician is referring to a break of the ankle, he or she is usually referring to a break in the area where the tibia and fibula are joined to create our ankle joint. Ankles are more prone to fractures because the ankle is an area that suffers a lot of pressure and stress. There are some obvious signs when a person experiences a fractured ankle, and the following symptoms may be present.

Symptoms of a Fractured Ankle

• Excessive pain when the area is touched or when any pressure is placed on the ankle
•  Swelling around the area
•  Bruising of the area
• Area appears to be deformed

If you suspect an ankle fracture, it is recommended to seek treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you have your podiatrist diagnose the fracture, the quicker you’ll be on the way towards recovery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Wheeling and Chicago, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

In the first 5 years of a child’s life, their feet grow very fast. Because it is also important that the bones in the feet grow straight, proper footwear is very important. As a baby, the bones in the toes are very soft, and shoes or socks that are too tight can prevent those bones from growing properly. In fact, children generally don’t need shoes until they begin walking on their own. Shoes that fasten with velcro are also important because they can help hold the heel in place and keep the foot from slipping. If you have other questions or concerns about what shoes your child should be wearing, a podiatrist will be able to help make further recommendations.

Making sure that your children maintain good foot health is very important as they grow. If you have any questions, contact Dr. Anna Petrov of Family Foot & Ankle Care. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

Having healthy feet during childhood can help prevent medical problems later in life, namely in the back and legs. As children grow, their feet require different types of care. Here are some things to consider...

Although babies do not walk yet, it is still very important to take care of their feet.

Avoid putting tight shoes or socks on his or her feet.

Allow the baby to stretch and kick his or her feet to feel comfortable.

As a toddler, kids are now on the move and begin to develop differently. At this age, toddlers are getting a feel for walking, so don’t be alarmed if your toddler is unsteady or ‘walks funny’. 

As your child gets older, it is important to teach them how to take care of their feet.

Show them proper hygiene to prevent infections such as fungus.

Be watchful for any pain or injury.

Have all injuries checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Comfortable, protective shoes should always be worn, especially at play.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Wheeling and Chicago, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

The cuboid is a cube-shaped bone in the mid-foot, which forms a joint between the heel bone and the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones leading to the toes on the lateral (outside) part of the foot. When there is trauma or repetitive strain to surrounding soft tissues, the cuboid bone can become dislocated and block surrounding bones from normal movement. This condition is called cuboid syndrome. People with flat feet, athletes, and dancers are all more at risk of developing cuboid syndrome. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, tenderness, or redness on the outside of the foot, difficulty walking, and weakness in the foot. Cuboid syndrome can sometimes be mistaken for an ankle sprain. If you have pain on the outside of your foot and believe you may have cuboid syndrome, a visit to a podiatrist is suggested so that your foot can be examined and properly diagnosed. Cuboid syndrome treatment may include icing, bracing, taping, biomechanical control, rest, physical therapy, custom orthotics, or physical manipulation to guide the cuboid back into its normal position.

Cuboid syndrome, also known as cuboid subluxation, occurs when the joints and ligaments near the cuboid bone in the foot become torn. If you have cuboid syndrome, consult with Dr. Anna Petrov from Family Foot & Ankle Care. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Cuboid syndrome is a common cause of lateral foot pain, which is pain on the outside of the foot. The condition may happen suddenly due to an ankle sprain, or it may develop slowly overtime from repetitive tension through the bone and surrounding structures.

Causes

The most common causes of cuboid syndrome include:

• Injury – The most common cause of this ailment is an ankle sprain.
• Repetitive Strain – Tension placed through the peroneus longus muscle from repetitive activities such as jumping and running may cause excessive traction on the bone causing it to sublux.
• Altered Foot Biomechanics – Most people suffering from cuboid subluxation have flat feet.

Symptoms

A common symptom of cuboid syndrome is pain along the outside of the foot which can be felt in the ankle and toes. This pain may create walking difficulties and may cause those with the condition to walk with a limp.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of cuboid syndrome is often difficult, and it is often misdiagnosed. X-rays, MRIs and CT scans often fail to properly show the cuboid subluxation. Although there isn’t a specific test used to diagnose cuboid syndrome, your podiatrist will usually check if pain is felt while pressing firmly on the cuboid bone of your foot.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are ice therapy, rest, exercise, taping, and orthotics.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Wheeling and Chicago, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Being obese can put excess strain on your feet, so perhaps it is not surprising that there appears to be an association between being obese and having flatter feet. The term “flat foot” refers to a foot structure in which the arch that is normally present in the center of the bottom of the foot is not visible when the foot is bearing weight. Infants are born with flat feet, but most will develop an arch over time. Those who don’t will go on to have flat feet, but will usually not have any symptoms. Flat feet can also be acquired later in life as excess pressure on the feet, or the loosening of the plantar fascia ligament, causes the arch to collapse. Acquired flat foot may cause pain and discomfort in those who have it, and this issue appears to be more common in people who are obese, although whether or not there is a causative relationship remains uncertain. If you have any foot pain, please consult with a podiatrist. 

The more you weigh, the harder your feet must work to support your body. If you’re an obese individual and are concerned about your feet, contact Dr. Anna Petrov from Family Foot & Ankle Care. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Obesity and Your Feet

People who are overweight are putting more pressure on their ankles, knees, and hips as well as their feet. This unfortunately can lead to variety of different issues.

Problems & Complications Stemming from Obesity

• When the body is overweight, it tries to compensate by changing the way that it moves. An obese person may lean forward and put extra weight on the wrong part of the foot. This puts unnecessary stress on the feet.
• Obese people are also more likely to develop type II diabetes which is a condition that causes a lot of foot problems. People with diabetes often don’t feel the cuts and sores that they may have on their feet, which can lead to more complicated and severe issues.
• Plantar fasciitis is another foot condition that can be caused by obesity. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the tissue along the bottom of the foot, which causes pain and stiffness while walking and climbing stairs.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Wheeling and Chicago, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Bunions are a very common foot condition that develops at the main joint of the big toe and appears as a bony lump. Bunions are formed when the joint in the big toe gets pulled out of alignment and is turned towards the rest of the toes. Bunions can be formed due to a variety of factors that include a poor mechanical structure from genetics, footwear that fits poorly and is too narrow, age, or arthritis. Bunions can be painful and can interfere with wearing everyday footwear. Most treatments for bunions focus on relieving the pain caused by them, since surgery is the only option for correcting a bunion. Conservative or nonsurgical treatment options that a podiatrist may recommend include exercises, night splints, and shoe inserts. If you are struggling with a painful bunion, consulting with a podiatrist is suggested. A podiatrist will help you find a proper treatment method for managing the bunion and help determine if surgery is right for you.

If you are suffering from bunion pain, contact Dr. Anna Petrov of Family Foot & Ankle Care. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is a Bunion?

Bunions are painful bony bumps that usually develop on the inside of the foot at the joint of the big toe. As the deformity increases over time, it may become painful to walk and wear shoes. Women are more likely to exacerbate existing bunions since they often wear tight, narrow shoes that shift their toes together. Bunion pain can be relieved by wearing wider shoes with enough room for the toes.

Causes

• Genetics – some people inherit feet that are more prone to bunion development
• Inflammatory Conditions - rheumatoid arthritis and polio may cause bunion development

Symptoms

• Redness and inflammation
• Pain and tenderness
• Callus or corns on the bump
• Restricted motion in the big toe

In order to diagnose your bunion, your podiatrist may ask about your medical history, symptoms, and general health. Your doctor might also order an x-ray to take a closer look at your feet. Nonsurgical treatment options include orthotics, padding, icing, changes in footwear, and medication. If nonsurgical treatments don’t alleviate your bunion pain, surgery may be necessary.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Wheeling and Chicago, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.